Typewriting machine



J PHELPs TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed .my a. 1922 mnmmll 1u. mw E F nm, mimm! wf m ad H15 ATTUFQNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PHELPS, 0F NORTH CALDWELL,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYIPEWRITER COMPANY, OF ILION, NEWYORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING- :MACHINE Application filed July 8,

To all whom t may concer/a.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH PHnLrs, a citizen of the United States, andresident of North Caldwell, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypewritingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the carriage motor or main spring mechanism ofwriting machines, and its principal object is to provide new andimproved means for regulating and controlling the tension of thecarriage main spring, eliminating the usual pawl and ratchet device andthe noise attendant upon its use, and affording adjustment of the springto obtain any desired tension or pull thereof.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear my presentinvention consists in the features of construction, combinations ofdevices and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevation partly insection of the carriage main spring mechanism of the No. 10 Remingtontypewriting machine showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a transverse planepassing diametrically through the spring drum, which in Fig. 2 has beenassumed for purposes of clearness to have been turned a quarter turnfrom the Fig. 1 position.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of detached parts.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section.

The main frame of the machine comprises a top plate 1 on top of whichare fixed grooved guide rails at the front and rear, the rear rail 2being shown herein. Said rail cooperates through roller bearings 3 tosupport anc guide the platen carriage of the machine as it travels backand forth across the top plate. The platen carriage comprises arectangular truck and a platen frame 1922. Serial No. 573,527.

shiftably supported thereon, the grooved rear bar 4 and one of the endbars 5 of the truck being shown in the drawing. Fixed to the right-handrear corner of the truck by a screw 6 is a curved arm 7 terminating atits free end in a hook 8 to which hook is detachably connected one endof a band or strap 9 which connects the carriage main spring devices.Said main spring devices comprise a spring drum 10 having a circularflange 11, and lightened by cutouts indicated at 12 with which its faceis provided. The drum or housing 10, 1l is vertically arranged andprojects upward through a slot indicated at 13 in the top plate 1. Theband or strap 9 passes through a slot or opening 14 in the flange 11,the end of said band being connected to a screw pin or stud 15 which isattached to the inside of the flange 11. During traveling movements ofthe carriage and turning movements of the drum the band or tape 9 windson and off the flange 11. The drum is rotatably supported on astub-shaft or stud 16 which in turn bears rotatably in a U-shapedbracket 17 secured by screws 18 to the under side of the top plate andprojecting downward therefrom, the bracket being provided with acircular boss or thickened portion 19 which is bored out to provide abearing opening for the shaft 16. Said shaft extends horizontallyforward from its bearing being provided with an enlarged middle portion16a and a reduced forward portion 1Gb. The portion 16b receives andprovides a bearing for a flanged member 20 which is fixed to the drum10i, 11 and provides a hub therefor, enabling the drum to turn or rotateon the portion 16b of the shaft. A headed screw 21 confines a ratchetwheel 22 and a beveled pinion 23 to the forwardly projectlng portion ofthe hub and also prevents displacement of the hub and its drum fromtheir bearing. The ratchet wheel 22 and pinion 23 are parts of theribbon feeding mechanism of the, No. 10 Remington niachine as is wellunderstood. he drum 10, 11 houses a main spring 24 which is coiledaround the portion 16a of the shaft 16, the inner end of said springbeing hooked over a notched pin or hook 25 projecting radially from thepart 16a of the shaft. The outer end of the main spring is provided withay loop 24a which fits over a stud 26 secured to the inner face of thedrum. A corresponding stud 27 is arranged diametrically opposite thestud 26, the two studs providing a support for a circular cover plate 28which is secured in place by screws 29 threaded into the studs, and hasa large circular hole at its center which enables the plate to be fittedreadily over the shaft portion 16a so as to cover the coils of the mainspring from the rear. The main or motor spring 211, as will be plainfrom Fig. 1, tends constantly to turn the spring drum in the directionof the arrow, the force being transmitted from the drum to the platencarriage through the band or connecting device 9 so that the main springconstantly urges the carriage leftward across the top plate or towardsthe right as viewed from Fig. 1, such movement of the carriage beingnormally prevented by the escapemcnt devices (not shown). It will beunderstood that the impulse of the main spring transmitted to the shaft16 through the hook 25 tends constantly to turn said shaft in a.counter-clockwise direction when viewed as in l. The shaft provides ananchorage for the main spring, and as is well understood, when turned orpermitted to turn eounter-cloclwise will afi'ord an unwinding f the mainspring and reduce the tension teof, while when said shaft is turnedoppositely or clockwise it will wind up the spring and increase itstension.

it has been usual heretofore to control the adjustments of the springdrum shaft and the variations of the main spring tension by devicesincluding a pawl and a ratchet, the manipulation of which unavoidablycreates considerable noise as the teeth of the pawl and ratchet devicesstrike on or click over one another. 1n order to avoid this objection Ihave provided a spring clutch or locking spring for controlling theshaft, which clutch may be readily controlled to aHord rotary movementsof the shaft so as to alter the anchorage of the main spring and wind itor unwind it. My novel tension controlling devices are practicallynoiseless in operation and have the further advantage of permitting'finer adjustments than are possible with a pawl and ratchet whichrestricts the adjustment necessarily to a distance corresponding to onetooth of the ratchet wheel or to some definite multiple of thisdistance, and cannot take care of finer adjustments. As contrasted withthis, my invention affords adjustment to any desired extent. The springclutch in the present instance is in the form of al coiled or spiralspring 30 of wire which fits comparatively snuglv over the boss orthickened portion 19 of the bracket 17 and operates when in normalcondition to frictionally grip or engage with said boss, the two partsacting as a friction clutch. The inner or forward end 31 of the spring30 is turned radially outward, while the opposite or rear end 32 of saidspring is turned backward away from the body of the spring. The lockingor clutch spring 30 is housed or covered by a hollow finger piece orrotary shell 33 having a knurled rib or enlarged circular finger portion34;. The shell 33 loosely surrounds the spring 30, being arrangedconcentrically with said spring and also with the shaft 16. The inner orforward face of the shell 33 is provided with a cutout or open-mouthedslot indicated at 35, which receives the end portion 31 of the clutchspring. The projecting rear end 32 of said clutch spring is received ina hole indicated at 36 formed in the front face of a circular head orstop washer 37 whose construction is best illustrated in Fig. 3. Thewasher 37 is formed with a circular depression 38 in its rear face andthe bottom of this depression is provided with a hole 39 having twoparallel flat sides. Also, the rear face of the washer is provided witha cross kerf or neck as indicated at 10, the kerf 40 being divided intotwo parts by the depression or countersink 38. The washer 37 iits overthe reduced end portion 16c of the shaft 16, said reduced portion havingparallel flat sides corresponding to those of the hole 39 in the washer,the construction being such that when the washer is fitted on the shaftand secured in place it is rigid with the shaft. A headed screw 41threaded into the rear end of the shaft 16 retains the washer in placethereon and close to the rear face of the shell 33, 34. |Theconstruction is such that the clutch spring 30 is covered or housedthroughout its length by the shell, while the washer 37 covers andprotects the spring from the rear. lt will be understood that the shaft16 may be turned by turning the washer' 37 and that this may be effectedby a tool or coin inserted in the nick 40. It will further be understoodthat the inner end of the main spring 24 is connected to and controllednormally by the clutch spring, this connection being effect-ive throughthe hook 25, the shaft 16 and the washer 37, with which last namedelement the clutch spring is connected at its end 32 through the hole36. The friction clutch or locking spring 30 normally holds the shaft oranchorage 16 in stationary condi tion, but it will be further apparent,especially from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 6, that the frictionalgrip or clutch of the locking spring 30 on the boss or stationary part19 may be relieved, so as to release or free the shaft 16, by unwindingthe clutch spring from either one of its opposite ends 81 and 32, thussufliciently lessening the frictional grip of the spring to permit it toturn on the boss 19. When the Washer 37 is rotated in clockwisedirection the spring clutch is released from its rear end, thus freeingthe shaft 16 which under the turning impulse received from the Washerwill be turned to tighten or Wind up the main spring from its inner end,and thus to increase the main spring tension to any desired extent, thespring clutch 30, When once loosened from the boss 19, itself turning asa Whole with the shaft 16. As soon as the desired spring` tension isattained t-he turning force applied to the Washer through the lrerf 40is removed and the inherent tension of the clutch spring will become:effective to vcause it to tighten its coils and regrip or frictionallyreengage with the outer face of the boss 19 land thus again to lock theshaft 16 against turning movements and to hold said shaft in itsreadjusted position. On the other hand should it be desired to reducethe tension of the main spring this can be effected by turning the shell38, 34 counter-clockwise. This movement of the shell Will be transmittedthrough the upturned end 31 of the spring 30 to the spring itself andWill tend to un- Wind the spring, loosening it suiiiciently to releaseit from its frictional or locking engagement With the boss 19 and thusfreeing the shaft 16 Which Will then turn Linder the impulse of the mainspring in clockwise direction so as to unwind the spring at its innerend and reduce its tension to a corresponding eXtent. It Will beunderstood that this turning movement is communicated by the hand of theoperator through power applied to the finger piece 34. As soon as thetension has been altered to whatever extent may be desired, this poweris removed and thereupon the spring 30 will tighten of itself and becomeeffective on the boss 19, re-clutching the latter and thus locking orclutching the shaft or anchorage 16 in its readjusted position.

Various changes may be made Without departing from my invention.

What I claim as ne7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typevvriting machine, the combination of a traveling papercarriage, a spring drum, a rotary member, and a coiled springclutchconnecting said member With said spring drum.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion of a carriage main spring,means normally holding said main spring at one end, and means forreleasing said holding means to permit said spring to be Wound and unWound to any desired extent.

3. In a typeWriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a coiledmain spring connected thereto, a shaft to which the inner end of saidcoiled spring is anchored, means normally holding said shaft againstrotation, and means for rendering said holding means inoperative andpermitting rotation of said shaft to any desired extent. under theimpulse of said spring.

e. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a` carriage, a coiledmain spring connected thereto, a shaft to Which the inner end of saidcoiled spring is anchored, means normally holding said shaft againstrotation, and means for rendering said holding means inoperative andpermitting rotation of said shaft to any desired extent under the actionof said spring, said last recited means including a device for turningsaid shaft to any desired extent against the tension of said spring.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combina.- tion of a carriage mainspring, and a spiral spring clutch connected to said main spring andeffective thro-ugh its own gripping action to maintain the` tension ofsaid main spring.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combina` tion of a carriage mainspring, a spring clutch connected to said main spring, and means forcontrolling the opposite ends of said clutch so as to loosen said clutchfrom either of its ends at Will.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage main spring,a spring clutch connected to said main spring, means fo-r controllingone end of said spring clutch, and separate means for controlling theopposite end of said spring clutch.

8. In a typewritin g machine, the combination of al carriage mainspring, a coiled spring connected to said main spring, a stationary partto Which said coiled spring clutches said main spring, and hand operatedmeans for loosening the coils of the clutching spring from the oppositeends of its coil to release its clutch on said station ary part.

9. In a. typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage main spring,a locking spring connected to and controlling one end of said mainspring, and a plurality of means for releasing said locking spring.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shaft, a main springconstantly tending to turn said shaft in one direction, a spiral clutchspring normally holding said shaft from so turning through the grippingaction of the spiral spring itself, and means for releasing said clutchspring so as to permit the shaft to turn under the impulse of the mainspring or to be turned in opposition to said main spring'.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a shaft, a main springconstantly tending to turn said shaft in one direction, a clutch springnormally holding said shaft from so turning, and means for releasingsaid clutch spring so as to permit the shaft to turn under the impulseof the main spring or to be turned in opposition to said main spring,said means comprising two separate devices, one connected to one end ofthe clutch spring and the other connected to the opposite end thereof.

12. In a typeivriting machine, the combi nation of a carriage mainspring, a friction spring connected to said main spring and to astationary part, and duplex means for releasing said friction springfrom said part, one of said means being operative to increase thetension of said main spring and the other affording reduction of thetension thereof.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, a mainspring connected to said carriage, an adjustable stationary anchoragefor the inner end of said main spring, and means including a coiledfriction spring and a co-operating element Whose surface is frictionallyengaged thereby for holding said anchorage in adjusted positions.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, amain spring connected to said carriage, a shaft toy which the inner endof said spring is anchored, a coiled friction spring having one endconnected to said shaft, and a rotary hand controlled device to whichthe other end of said friction spring is connected, the constructionenabling the friction spring to be released from either of its ends atWill.

15. In a typeivriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage,a main spring connected to said carriage, an anchor member to which theinner end of said spring is anchored, a coiled friction spring havingone end connected to said member, a part having a curved surfaceconcentric with said member and which is engaged by the coils of saidfriction spring, and a movable device to which said friction spring isconnected at its opposite end.

16. In a typewriting machine, the coinbination of a traveling ca riage,a main spring connected to said carriage, a shaft to which the inner endof said main spring is anchored, a coiled friction spring having one endconnected to said shaft, and a device surrounding the coils of saidfriction spring and connected to the other end thereof, said devicebeing concentric with said shaft and rotatable at Will to release saidfriction spring.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, amain spring connected to said carriage, a shaft to which the inner endof said main spring is anchored, a coiled friction spring having one endconnected to said shaft, and a rotary housing surrounding said frictionspring and connected thereto', said housing being rotatable by hand torelease said friction spring.

1S. In a typeivriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage,a main spring connected to said carriage, a shaft to which the inner endof said spring is anchored, a circular hand controlled device fixed tothe outer end of said shaft, a. coiled friction spring having one endconnected to said device, and a shell surrounding said shaft andprovided With a knurled finger portion, the inner end of said frictionspring being connected to said shell.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, amain spring connected to said carriage, a shaft to Which the inner endof said spring is anchored, a circular hand controlled device fixed tothe upper end of said shaft, a coiled friction spring having one endconnected to said device, and a shell surrounding said shaft andprovided with a knurled finger portion, the inner end of said frictionspring being connected to said shell, said circular device beingprovided with a nick to receive a tool whereby said circular device maybe turned to release said friction spring and rotate said shaft to Windup said main spring, said shell being rotatable by hand to release saidfriction spring and permit said shaft to turn to diminish the tension ofsaid main spring.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, adrum or housing connected to said carriage, a main spring coiled Withinsaid drum and connected thereto at its outer end, a shaft for said drumto Which the inner end of said main spring is connected, a bearing forsaid shaft having a cylindrical portion, a spiral locking springsurrounding said cylindrical portion and frictionally engagingtherewith, and separate devices connected to the opposite ends of saidspiral spring to alternatively release it.

2l. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, adrum or housing connected to said shaft, a main spring coiled Withinsaid drum and connected thereto at its outer end, a shaft for said drumto which the inner end of said main spring is connected, a bearing forsaid shaft having a cylindrical portion, a spiral locking springsurrounding said cylindrical portion and frictionally engagingtherewith, a rotary shell or thumb button housing said friction springand connected to the inner end thereof, and a slotted head fixed to saidshaft and connected to the outer end of said spiral spring.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a traveling carriage, aspring drum connected to said carriage, a inain spring housed by saiddruni and connected thereto, a shaft to which said main spring is alsoconnected, a clutch spring normally holding said shaft from turning, andseparate rotary devices coneentrically mounted and independentlyoperative on the opposite ends of said clutch spring for releasing saidclutch spring to alord rotation of said shaft to vary the tension ofsaid main spring.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county ofNew York, and State of New York, this 7th day of July, A. D. 1922.

JOSEPH PHELPS.

